40 Man Roster Decisions

[goonys evil twin]

Rather than teams being allowed three years (for players signed at age 19 or older) or four years (for players 18 and younger) before leaving them off the 40-man roster subjects them to the Rule 5 draft, those periods have been lengthened to four and five. Ownership considered this a significant boost in their efforts to operate their minor league systems more effectively.

 

This rule applies to this current offseason, meaning that many minor league players who had expected to either be placed on the 40-man roster or be subject to the Rule 5 draft will have to wait another year. The union did negotiate a higher minimum salary for 40-man roster players optioned to the minor leagues ($60,000 next year), but acknowledged that this was a significant concession to ownership.

 

Very interesting stuff. I like the move.

[Guest]

Wow! Thanks for posting that.

 

What a huge change for player development.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Great news! I didn't think it applied to this offseason when I read it off MLB's site last night.

 

I'd protect Petrick now (though I was never too keen to protect Harvey).

 

And here is a link to what Nathan was talking about:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/news/262720.html

[Mizzou]

Arizona Phil made his predictions of who'd get protected:

 

The Cub Reporter[/url]"]Rocky Cherry RHP

Jake Fox C

Ryan Harvey OF

Lincoln Holdzkom RHP

Clay Rapada LHP

Chris Shaver LHP

I've never heard of Lincoln Holdzkom. Anyone care to shine a little light for me?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Came over from the Marlins for Todd Wellemeyer. Had some injury problems in the past (was considered a pretty good reliever prospect in the Marlins' system before the injuries) but has impressed this fall in the AFL. Has a low-to-mid 90s FB and a sharp slider, his control has improved quite a bit too.

[jacey]

Got to protect Holdzkom if you ask me. Shaver, Fox, Wells also

[BigbadB]

Fuld would have needed to be protected under the old CBA already? What year was he drafted?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Fuld would have needed to be protected under the old CBA already? What year was he drafted?

 

Correct. He was drafted in 2004.

 

A revised list of those eligible for the Rule 5 Draft from AZ Phil:

 

Thomas Atlee, RHP

Federico Baez, RHP (MLFA after 2007)

Oscar Bernard, RHP (6Y MLFA after 2007)

Ryan Bicondoa, RHP (MLFA after 2007)

Chadd Blasko, RHP

Bobby Brownlie, RHP

Edward Campusano, LHP

Gary Cates, Jr, IF-OF (MLFA after 2007)

Rocky Cherry, RHP

Robinson Chirinos, 2B (6Y MLFA after 2007)

Matt Craig, 1B-3B

Mike Fontenot, 2B

Jake Fox, C

Alfredo Francisco, RHP

Alberto Garcia, 1B-OF

Cristian Gonzalez, RHP (MLFA after 2007)

Luke Hagerty, LHP

Lincoln Holdzkom, RHP (6Y MLFA after 2007)

Micah Hoffpauir, 1B

Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B (MLFA after 2007)

Casey Kopitzke, C (retired)

Richard Lewis, 2B (6Y MLFA after 2007)

Albenis Machado, INF (MLFA after 2007)

Casey McGehee, 3B

Adalberto Mendez, RHP

Isaac Pavlik, LHP (MLFA after 2007)

Billy Petrick, RHP

Carmen Pignatiello, LHP (MLFA after 2007)

Robert Ransom, RHP

Clay Rapada, LHP

Tony Richie, C

Alan Rick, C

Carlos Rojas, SS (6Y MLFA after 2007)

Issmael Salas, INF (6Y MLFA after 2007)

Andy Shipman, RHP

Jemel Spearman, INF

Carlos Vasquez, LHP (MLFA after 2007)

Chris Walker, OF

Les Walrond, LHP (MLFA after 2007)

Randy Wells, RHP

Jesus Yepez, LHP

 

And AZ added this about Rocky Cherry:

 

And I would add that Rocky Cherry is a big question mark, because he had season-ending finger surgery in July that may preclude him from throwing his splitter ever again (same thing happened to Sean Marshall a couple of years ago, but Marshall had a plus curve ball he could use in place of his abandoned splitter). Cherry's mid-90's heater may not be enough without the splitter to go with it, and thus the Cubs may decide to risk losing Cherry in the Rule 5 Draft again this year.

[WrigleyField 22]

Based on going through our current 40 man, I see 30 players that should be returning. This doesn't count trades that could occur that could be 2-1 or 3-1, but Hendry might not be smart enough to rid himself of guys who should be gotten rid of (ie-Bynum,Novoa), so we'll say it evens out at 30. That leaves 10 open spots.

 

If we need 2-3 SP, a new 2B and CF at the least(SS,RF?), plus maybe 2 new FA bench players, that would put us at 7 new additions leaving 3 spots for new additions to the 40man among the minor leaguers. We'll say it could be as little as 2 and as many as 5-6. So lets see your list of 5-6(or more) to protect, ranked in order:

 

1-Jake Fox

2-Randy Wells

3-Lincoln Holdzkom

4-Mike Fontenot

5-Billy Petrick

6-Rocky Cherry

7-Clay Rapada

8-Carmen Pignatiello

[craig]

Cali, doesn't the Rule 5 clock depend on when you play, rather than when you are drafted? In Fuld's case, he may have been drafted in 2004, but his first season was 2005.

 

Wrigley, in terms of protection, my peferences depend heaviliy on health. Obviously Cherry's status depends on his health, and ditto for Campusano.

 

But I'd rank my first 7 like this:

1. Holdzkom

2. Edward Campusano

3. Rocky Cherry

4. Clay Rapada

5. Jake Fox

6. Randy Wells

7. Billy Petrick

 

Campusano and Cherry, depends heavily on their health status. If both are expected to be 100% in spring and uncompromised by injury, a lefty who throws with Campy's stuff and velocity has a chance to be a solid situational reliever. And a guy who throws as hard as cherry supposedly did, and has some control, those guys have a chance to be big-leaguers. Wells obviously is a finesse guy, not as much arm.

 

If I thought Fox could catch defensively, I'd like him better.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cali, doesn't the Rule 5 clock depend on when you play, rather than when you are drafted? In Fuld's case, he may have been drafted in 2004, but his first season was 2005.

 

Looking around the Internet, apparently Fuld would be eligible 3 years after he signed* (it's not based on the year a player was drafted or a player was first played professionaly). According to Baseball Cube, he signed on July 9, 2004.

 

 

*Baseball America:

Rather than teams being allowed three years (for players signed at age 19 or older) or four years (for players 18 and younger) before leaving them off the 40-man roster subjects them to the Rule 5 draft, those periods have been lengthened to four and five.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If I thought Fox could catch defensively, I'd like him better.

 

In the 42 defensive innings at catcher in the AFL, Jake is 3/8 in catching base stealers. He has a throwing error on a stolen base but most importantly, has no passed balls so far. Hopefully he is improving.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

You have to protect Holdzkom and Rapada, these guys have been lights out and could potentially help the Cubs very soon. Both impress me. I can't believe we got Lincoln for Todd Wellemeyer, that was a real score.

[weather2]

Wasn't Holdzkom available because he was returning from TJ surgery or am I thinking of someone else?

[Laura]

The minor league rosters freeze on Monday, Nov. 20, so the Cubs have some rostering decisions to make, pronto.

 

Arizona Phil / The Cub Reporter[/url]"]

Next Monday is the last day players on minor league rosters can be traded or moved up to a major league roster. Starting next Tuesday, and until the completion of the Rule 5 Draft on December 7th, players on minor league rosters are “frozen.” That is, any player on a minor league roster as of next Tuesday cannot be traded and cannot be added to an MLB 40-man roster until the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft. Players on an MLB 40-man roster can be sent outright to the minors during this period, but it’s strictly a one-way highway.

 

If you follow the link, AZ Phil has the list of players eligible for the draft as well as some predictions on who the Cubs will (and will not) roster.

 

ETA: Carlos Vasquez would have been eligible for the draft had the Cubs chosen not to protect him.

[goonys evil twin]

can they still be traded as PTBNL?

[CubColtPacer]

can they still be traded as PTBNL?

 

Yes-an article the other day made reference to a Cubs trade a couple years ago (the Lee trade maybe) that was during this time where they traded a PTBNL who was then named after the Rule 5 draft.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

can they still be traded as PTBNL?

 

Yes-an article the other day made reference to a Cubs trade a couple years ago (the Lee trade maybe) that was during this time where they traded a PTBNL who was then named after the Rule 5 draft.

 

Yeah, in the Lee trade, the Cubs were able to trade away Mike Nannini as a PTBNL.

[biittner77]

Casey McGehee moving up the charts. Would somebody draft him and hide him on the bench? Usually teams don't bother with a player of his upside but he could be a decent-good corner utility guy for a MLB team.

 

Of the drop list, it seems like the Cubs would protect Harben.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I wouldn't protect Harben.

[craig]

Rapada, Fox, Pigs, McGehee, Holdzkom, Wells, Cherry, Campy are 8 guys who might perhaps be considered for rostering.

 

Coats, Dopey, Harben, Negron, O'Malley, and Reyes are six who might be candidates for derostering in order to make space.

 

Seems to me any of those six could be exposed without much pain.

 

That's a pool of 14 names total. Not sure which I'd value the most or which I'd mind losing the most.

 

I suppose Dopirak is the biggest name, and would be the name most embarrassing to expose. IN any case, I don't think there's likely to be a lot of pain with whomever is exposed. Or, much likelihood of being taken, whether from the 8 who would need protection or from those six who might possibly be deprotected,

[Bruno7481]

Rapada, Fox, Pigs, McGehee, Holdzkom, Wells, Cherry, Campy are 8 guys who might perhaps be considered for rostering.

 

Coats, Dopey, Harben, Negron, O'Malley, and Reyes are six who might be candidates for derostering in order to make space.

 

Seems to me any of those six could be exposed without much pain.

 

That's a pool of 14 names total. Not sure which I'd value the most or which I'd mind losing the most.

 

I suppose Dopirak is the biggest name, and would be the name most embarrassing to expose. IN any case, I don't think there's likely to be a lot of pain with whomever is exposed. Or, much likelihood of being taken, whether from the 8 who would need protection or from those six who might possibly be deprotected,

 

I think exposing Dopirak would be fine. I know a lot of his struggles last year can be due to the injury, so he basically missed a year of development. I don't think anybody would take him and leave him on their roster all season, he's nowhere near ready for that.

[craig]

I think exposing Dopirak would be fine. I know a lot of his struggles last year can be due to the injury, so he basically missed a year of development. I don't think anybody would take him and leave him on their roster all season, he's nowhere near ready for that.

 

Thing is, Bruno, since they rushed Dopirak onto the roster last winter (for reasons I didn't understand, since I didn't think anybody would touch him then after the horrible season he had at Daytona...), a team could snag him and would *NOT* need to put him on the 25-manroster. If the Cubs deroster him, anybody can pick him up for their *40 man* roster, not for their *25 man* roster. And just keep him in AA where he belongs anyway.

 

However, if you don't bother to protect Rapada or Fox or one of the new eligibles, then a team *would* need to keep him on 25-man or offer him back.

 

So, all things being equal, if you're going to have somebody available, it's preferable to have it be somebody who they'd need to put on their 25-man.

 

For example, if Fox were 40-man available, I think somebody might take him, and figure that 2-3 years out maybe he'll develop into a passable catcher. But the odds that somebody will be excited enough about him to waste a 25-man spot for a full year for a guy who nobody would want to let catch in a big-league game they wanted to win, and who isn't exactly Mike Piazza offensively, those odds are remotely small.

[SouthSideRyan]

The rostering of Buck Coats was so stupid.

[Guest]

The rostering of Buck Coats was so stupid.

only if you'll miss him if another team grabs him when he's derostered. In the meantime, Buck gets rewarded for his years of effort in the minors with at least a taste of the bigs and a chance to show himself on the big stage.